“Grandma, tell me that story about how you met Bob Marley” “Tell me about Jamaica in the 80s again” “Sometimes we feel like a foreigner in our own home” Growing up in the United States, I learned about my Jamaican culture through stories from my father and paternal grandmother. Stories in Patwa of the PNP and JLP, the story of how my grandma met Bob Marley when he was a local legend while the Mighty Diamonds and Alton Ellis played on a stereo in the background are only a few of what I heard growing up. I experienced first-hand why storytelling is important for a diaspora. Stories helped me further understand the other side of my identity and personality. Furthermore, they helped reconnect me as the next generation of Jamaican descendants to the homeland and ancestors and inspired me to have stories of my own. My Jamaican story began when I visited the island at 18. The culture of Jamaica taught me how to appreciate the simple things in life and put me at ease from the rush and angst of the American lifestyle. I instantly fell in love. On the other hand, I realized I did not know Jamaica as well as I thought I did. In Jamaica, I was a tourist, a “Yankee”. I did not speak or understand Patwa as well as I thought I did. I had not grown up in Jamaica so I felt imposter syndrome in a place that I was told was my home. Yet in the States, everyone knew me as the Jamaican girl. It was confusing feeling like both and neither at the same time. When I spoke to my dad about it he said “Sometimes we feel like foreigners no matter where we are” and he felt exactly what I was talking about. To most people, this would discourage them from returning, but this actually encouraged me. My story of Jamaica is still being told. I want to use the art of cinematic storytelling to expand the greatness and legacy of the island, and other places in the Caribbean and exceed negative stereotypes. This will help me get closer to my ultimate goal: creating a Jamaican Hollywood and opening up more opportunities for citizens to be creators instead of only consumers. In this way, I am learning, immersing, and giving back simultaneously. Jamaica has influenced my life goals and inspired me to be something more than what people have relegated me to. I am not an imposter, I am Jamaican. The honor of receiving the Carlos F. Garcia Muentes Scholarship will enable me to reconnect with my homeland and give back to the island through storytelling. After doing so in my home country, I will expand throughout the Caribbean and Latin America by helping Afro-Latino and Indigenous communities through film.

As a documentary film student at Spelman College, I have dedicated my life to telling stories. But what about my own? My story begins when I heard these words in August 2022: "Your father and I are getting a divorce.” A twenty-year marriage was gone in front of my eyes in eight words. Seeing my family crumble in a fiery divorce process was a traumatic experience but I always remembered that I am a victor and not a victim. I decided to use the divorce as encouragement to venture outside of my comfort zone by studying abroad and helping others with my gift of cinematic storytelling. In the Spring of 2023, I studied abroad for a semester in Accra, Ghana with New York University by applying for study abroad scholarships and the Pell Grant for low-income students. While abroad, I created films about the mass repatriation of Black Americans to Ghana and University of Ghana dance students triumphing over the challenges of a profession stigmatized in West African society. By telling the stories of others, I was able to learn perseverance, leave my comfort zone through faith, become more patient, and positively encourage others to do the same. Pursuing a career in filmmaking allows me to love others unconditionally (agape) because an effective film urges us to stop seeing each other as gay or straight, liberal or conservative, tall or short, and begin to see the truth: a human being. I had this revelation when I began making my films. Holding the camera in front of my eyes was a mechanism for me to see past someone’s labels and show the world who they really are. So far in my cinematic career, I have directed and written films about Black stunt doubles, Afro-Latin dance as a substitute for psychiatric medication, and more. My films have been finalists in various film festivals such as the 2023 NYU Accra Student Film Festival, National Black Movie Association Film Festival 2024, and The Green Screen Project Film Festival 2024. Currently, I am a four-year member of the Spelman College honors program, fluent in five languages and I am Cum Laude at Spelman College. Joy Of Life Inspire’s AAA Scholarship will enable me to continue my education so that I can be an example for the generation of young Black boys and girls after me through cinematic community service during and after college. As of May 2024, I was voted to be the Event Planner and Outreach Leader of the Morehouse Filmmakers Association for the upcoming academic year. This summer, I am organizing and planning to lead a community service initiative called “A Minute with Morehouse” this fall. The vision for this community service event is to gather thirty students from the Atlanta University Center along with fifty students at Booker T. Washington and again with sixty students at Tri-Cities High School. Together, these students will spend a day filming a movie with their cell phones. The next day, they will edit the footage into a one-minute short and show it at a community screening with parents a week later. The goal of this initiative is to empower young Black high schoolers to be leaders in their storytelling journey through film and make an impact on our community. After graduating college, I will create films and videos that uplift underrepresented groups throughout the African Diaspora and lead efforts to improve their conditions in society. The honor of receiving the Joy Of Life Inspire’s AAA Scholarship can make all of these endeavors possible.

Being a rising senior and film major at Spelman College, a member of the Spelman College honors program, director of over 15 short films, fluent in three languages, on the executive board of my school’s film club, and Cum Laude at Spelman College, enables me to bond with people from many different walks of life. This includes my uncles, aunts, cousins, and many others who are very important to me. My Uncle Leeroy served in Kuwait and the Middle East for 2 years and I currently have an uncle serving in Japan for the past five years. Furthermore, my teenage brother plans to enlist in the Air Force after high school. While my Uncle Leeroy was in Kuwait, he would WhatsApp call me every week telling me the amazing stories of sacrifice and valor from him and his teammates that I would write in a journal. Many of the things the people did always shocked me. On one particular call, I asked him, “Uncle Leeroy, why do y’all do this? Wouldn’t you rather be home?” My uncle let out a huge laugh. “Amira, a guy thinks about himself. A soldier thinks about everybody. We’re here to do what’s best for everyone back home even if it means something could happen to us” When my uncle returned from serving, although proud of his time enlisting, he experienced PTSD, insomnia, episodes of anxiety, and homelessness. Currently, my uncle is doing better and lives in a boarding house. He explained to me that while he would never take back those years serving his country, he and a lot of other comrades came back to the States with inadequate resources and wished there were more opportunities for veterans to re-integrate into society. Now that I am older, I want to share the amazing stories of soldiers with others so that those stories can inspire, compel, and positively impact people in the ways they did for me. Additionally, I want to lead efforts to create more programs and resources for veterans once they return from serving our nation. The Johnny Douglas Conner Memorial Scholarship will allow me to advocate for current soldiers serving in the military and veterans who have served through filmmaking. After graduating, I plan to make a documentary series about the hidden and overlooked stories of men and women who have served our nation. In my documentary, I will also add how the everyday person can help a veteran and shed light on programs and foundations geared toward helping people in the military. Through this, I will honor our troops and give them a voice for the great service they’ve given our nation.

At fourteen years old, I fell in love with two things: making movies and helping others. As I grew up watching how SuperSizeMe changed the menu of a billion-dollar corporation, the movie Jaws causing an overhunting of sharks, and Top Gun increasing Navy enlistment, I saw firsthand how influential cinema was and I wanted to be a part of it. Furthermore, by seeing the impact of cinema, I wanted to dedicate my career to using cinema to create a world of racial equality and uplift my community. As a film major at Spelman College, my life's mission is to join the Black women and men who are screenwriters and film directors. In my cinematic career, I have directed and written films about Black American repatriation to Africa, Black stunt doubles, and Afro-Latin dance as a form of medicine for mental health. My films have been finalists in various film festivals such as The 2023 NYU Accra Student Film Festival, National Black Movie Association Film Festival 2024, and The Green Screen Project Film Festival 2024. As the Event Planner and Outreach Leader of the Morehouse Filmmakers Association, I organized and led a community service initiative called “A Minute with Morehouse.” Thirty students from the Atlanta University Center along with fifty students at Booker T. Washington and again with sixty students at Tri-Cities High School spent a day filming with their cell phones. The next day, they edited the footage into a one-minute short shown at a community screening with parents a week later. Many of these students who initially said they were not going to college came to us after the showcase and said they were filling out college applications so they could be leaders in the filmmaking industry. Through this initiative, my team and I taught Black high schoolers that they have the power to be leaders in their storytelling journey through film. The Schmid Memorial Scholarship will enable me to continue my education and use filmmaking to help others despite being a low-income student. The scholarship will also help me become an example for the generation of young boys and girls after me. As I pursue a career in filmmaking, I will create films that uplift underrepresented groups and tell forgotten and lost stories, specifically throughout the African Diaspora. I will make a film about the culture and presence of Afro-Latinos, the ancient story of the Aborigines, and the intellectual gold mine of Timbuktu that contributed to the enlightenment and advancements in the Western world and what the city is today. Through my films, I plan to bring awareness to communities like these and lead efforts to improve their conditions in society. The honor of receiving The Schmid Memorial Scholarship can make this possible.

Filmmaking is the same as mind control, especially when it comes to how we view other people. After the racist and bigoted film “A Birth of A Nation” (1915) was released, the dormant Ku Klux Klan grew to an exponential membership causing “incalculable damage” (facinghistory.org) to Black communities. Additionally, the film “Triumph of the Will” (1935) a Nazi propaganda movie caused attacks on Jewish families to skyrocket and World War II shortly after. As a film major at Spelman College, my life's mission is to join screenwriters and film directors of color to end racial stereotypes in the media and strive for a future of ethnic equality (and because screenwriting and directing are fun!) In my cinematic career, a few films I have directed and written were about Black American repatriation to Africa, Black stunt doubles, and Afro-Latin dance as a form of medicine for mental health. My films were finalists at the 2023 NYU Accra Student Film Festival, National Black Movie Association Film Festival 2024, The Green Screen Project Film Festival 2024, and many more festivals. While I was extremely proud of myself for these accomplishments, I wanted to take a step further and use my gift of cinematic storytelling to uplift my community. This led me to apply and become accepted as an executive board member of the Morehouse Filmmakers Association. As the Event Planner and Outreach Leader of the Morehouse Filmmakers Association, I organized and led a community service initiative called “A Minute with Morehouse.” Thirty students from the Atlanta University Center along with fifty students at Booker T. Washington High School and again with sixty students at Tri-Cities High School spent a day filming with their cell phones. The next day, they edited the footage into a one-minute short shown at a community screening with parents a week later. Many of these students who initially said they were not going to college came to us after the showcase and said they were filling out college applications to become leaders in the filmmaking industry. Through this initiative, my team and I taught Black high schoolers that they have the power to be leaders in their storytelling journey through film. The Priscilla Shireen Luke Scholarship will enable me to continue my education to help end racism in cinema and consequently our society. The scholarship will also help me become an example for the generation of young Black boys and girls after me. As I pursue a career in filmmaking, I will create films that uplift underrepresented groups and tell forgotten and lost stories, specifically throughout the African Diaspora. I will make a film about the culture and presence of Afro-Latinos, the ancient story of the Aborigines, and the intellectual gold mine of Timbuktu that contributed to the enlightenment and advancements in the Western world and what the city is today. Through my films, I plan to bring awareness to communities like these and lead efforts to improve their conditions in society. The honor of receiving the Priscilla Shireen Luke Scholarship can make this possible.

As a natural-born leader and storyteller, I connect to the mental health community by listening to their stories. While no two of these stories are the same, they unfortunately always have similarities when it comes to their interactions with others outside the mental health community: “People said I’m retarded” “People called me crazy/lazy” “The teacher said I was dumb” “I thought something was wrong with me” As a film major at Spelman College, I advocate for mental health awareness through filmmaking. For my Junior thesis film in the Spring of 2024, I directed, wrote, and edited a short film on the positive effects of Afro-Latin dancing (bachata, salsa, and merengue) on mental health survivors. With its rhythmic beats, up-tempo pace, and social atmosphere, Afro-Latin dance is shown to be perfect for people in the mental health community because of the chemical effects it has on the brain and nervous system. I wanted to demonstrate through my film that the answer to interacting with those battling mental health as someone who is outside the community is not always immediate diagnoses, prescribing substances, judgment, isolation, or ostracizing. There are many things a person can do to support the mental health community. Sometimes, it is as simple as inviting someone to dance. The film’s subjects are daily overcomers of mental health challenges. The film portrays them joining the Atlanta Afro-Latin dance community and how it has helped them in their journeys. So far, this film has been a finalist in the 2024 Spelman College Documentary Filmmaking Film Festival, the 2024 Morehouse Filmmaker’s Association Film Festival, and the 2024 Brilliant Bilingual Global Leaders Film Festival. After seeing the impact this film had in my city, I am eager to continue to use my filmmaking career to help educate and spread awareness on how society can help people who are part of a demographic that has been wrongfully stigmatized for centuries. The ADHDAdvisor's Mental Health Advocate Scholarship will go toward my tuition which will help my journey of creating a documentary series about the unique journeys of mental health survivors and advocates. Eventually, I will screen this series throughout my community and lead philanthropic efforts to provide mental health resources for underserved communities. The honor of receiving The ADHDAdvisor's Mental Health Advocate Scholarship will make it possible for me to advocate and be a leader for the mental health community through filmmaking.

DEMOCRAT! REPUBLICAN! BLACK! WHITE! CAPITALISM! COMMUNISM! BAN ABORTIONS! MY BODY, MY CHOICE! UP! DOWN! DON’T TOUCH MY GUN! RESTRICT GUNS NOW! Tiring, isn’t it? Day to day, year to year, there is always a conflict or battle over . . . everything. I have realized that the hostility we have toward each other and the attitude of “You’re wrong” is a disguise for “I don’t understand” and “I’m afraid.” For this reason, cinematic acting and film production are the academic disciplines my heart longs for. On the surface, it may seem like acting is a profession of people being ridiculous through a camera lens (which is not untrue). Yet underneath the surface, what acting truly does is compel the viewer to step back to take off their life’s lens and see through someone else’s. Effective acting urges us to stop seeing each other as gay or straight, liberal or conservative, tall or short, and begin to see the truth: a human being. I have been acting since I was six years old. I am currently taking classes in Atlanta, Georgia, and have been on numerous film and music video sets as an actress. During my junior year of college in 2023, I felt a calling to use the power of acting and filmmaking to help my community. By joining the executive board of The Morehouse Filmmakers Association as the Event Planner and Outreach Leader, I organized and led a community service initiative called “A Minute with Morehouse.” Thirty students from the Atlanta University Center along with fifty students at Booker T. Washington High School and again with sixty students at Tri-Cities High School spent a day filming with their cell phones. Before filming, I introduced students to acting through the Stanislavsky and Chubbuck techniques that I learned in my acting education so they could implement them in their films. Black Americans typically have less exposure to performing arts and professions that encourage emotional awareness and healing. Through this community service initiative, I exposed inner-city Black students to a craft that can be an emotional outlet. The next day, they edited the footage into a one-minute short screened at a community screening with parents a week later. Many of these students who initially said they were not interested in performing arts, came to us after the showcase and said they were joining their schools’ musical theatre program or looking at performing arts colleges. Through this initiative, my team and I taught Black high schoolers that they have the power to be leaders in their storytelling and emotional journeys through acting and filmmaking. Through my faith in Christ and the generosity of Lee Aca Thompson Performing Arts Scholarship, I will continue my education and become an example for the generation of young boys and girls after me. In five to ten years, my goal is to be a world-renowned actress and screenwriter who dabbles in film directing. I will act in and write scripts for films and videos that uplift underrepresented groups and tell forgotten and lost stories, specifically throughout the African Diaspora. I will star in a film about the culture and presence of Afro-Latinos, the ancient story of the Aborigines, and the intellectual gold mine of Timbuktu that contributed to the enlightenment and advancements in the Western world and what the city is today. Through my acting presence in these films, I plan to bring awareness to communities like these and lead efforts to improve their conditions in society. The honor of receiving the Lee Aca Thompson Performing Arts Scholarship can make this possible.

DEMOCRAT! REPUBLICAN! BLACK! WHITE! CAPITALISM! COMMUNISM! BAN ABORTIONS! MY BODY, MY CHOICE! UP! DOWN! DON’T TOUCH MY GUN! RESTRICT GUNS NOW! Tiring, isn’t it? Day to day, year to year, there is always a conflict or battle over . . . everything. I have realized that the hostility we have toward each other and the attitude of “You’re wrong” is a disguise for “I don’t understand” and “I’m afraid.” For this reason, film production and film studies have become the academic discipline my heart longs for. On the surface, it may seem like a movie is seen through a camera’s lens. Yet, what is truly happening is the viewer is stepping back to take off their life’s lens and see through someone else’s. An effective film urges us to stop seeing each other as gay or straight, liberal or conservative, tall or short, and begin to see the truth: a human being. During my junior year of college in 2023, I felt a calling to use the power of film to help my community. I decided to create an impact by becoming an executive board member of The Morehouse Filmmakers Association as the Event Planner and Outreach Leader. While on the e-board, I organized and led a community service initiative called “A Minute with Morehouse.” Thirty students from the Atlanta University Center along with fifty students at Booker T. Washington High School and again with sixty students at Tri-Cities High School spent a day filming with their cell phones. The next day, they edited the footage into a one-minute short which was shown at a community screening with parents a week later. Many of these students who initially said they were not going to college came to us after the showcase and said they were filling out college applications or enlisting in the military so they could be leaders in the filmmaking industry. Through this initiative, my team and I taught Black high schoolers that they have the power to be leaders in their storytelling journey through film. Through my faith in Christ and the generosity of The John Young 'Pursue Your Passion' Scholarship, I will continue my education and become an example for the generation of young boys and girls after me. In five to ten years, my goal is to be a world-renowned screenwriter and film director who dabbles in acting. I will create films and videos that uplift underrepresented groups and tell forgotten and lost stories, specifically throughout the African Diaspora. I will make a film about the culture and presence of Afro-Latinos, the ancient story of the Aborigines, and the intellectual gold mine of Timbuktu that contributed to the enlightenment and advancements in the Western world and what the city is today. Through my films, I plan to bring awareness to communities like these and lead efforts to improve their conditions in society. The honor of receiving the John Young 'Pursue Your Passion' Scholarship can make this possible.

On my last day of being four years old, my mother asked me what I wanted for my birthday. I told her I wanted to go on a rocket ship, visit planets with other people, bring them back to Earth, and make them my friends. Eventually, I learned that extraterrestrial travel is not available to most humans (yet). Until it is, I realized there is a way I can still fulfill this dream: through study abroad. As a student at Spelman College, I have studied abroad in Norway, France, Ghana, and The Galapagos Islands, Ecuador. Before I studied abroad, I lacked humility, I lacked patience and thought the world revolved around my feelings. Each country I traveled to taught me how to become the better adult I am today by leaving me with unique aspects of their culture to take with me when I went home. Ghana being a communally minded country taught me to think more about others and become more patient and humbler. I was able to take these skills back to the U.S. and spearhead a community service event as an executive board member of my school’s film team. When I traveled to Norway, I was hesitant to travel to a colder country I did not know much about. After Norway, I was happy that I left my comfort zone and realized that having a great time is possible even if things don’t go as expected. In the Galapagos Islands, Ecuador, I had an amazing time bonding with locals and was taught lessons in self-control, patience, and improving from your mistakes. Because I have been so positively impacted by studying abroad, I want to share this gift with my community so that the positive effects of travel can spread to others. According to NAFSA.org, only 5.3% of study abroad students were Black during the 2021-2022 school year. As an HBCU student who wants to make a change in the world, I will start a program this semester that educates high schoolers in the metro Atlanta area about the benefits of studying abroad and encourages them to take on the opportunity in college. This way, my community can learn more about others, teach others, and experience personal growth through studying abroad in the same way I was able to.

As a first-generation Caribbean-American student growing up in the United States, it seemed like I was never “Caribbean enough” for my family back home and not “American enough” for my friends in the U.S. Thankfully, the number one way I was able to feel connected to my island culture was through storytelling. My relatives’ anecdotes about island life helped me further understand the other side of my identity and personality. Furthermore, they helped reconnect me as the next generation of Caribbean descendants to my homeland and ancestors which inspired me to tell stories of my own. For this reason, at the age of fourteen, I decided I wanted to be a film director and screenwriter so I can strengthen my diaspora through cinematic storytelling. A few years later, I am now a rising senior and film major at Spelman College. I am in the Spelman College honors program, fluent in five languages and I am Cum Laude at Spelman College. So far in my cinematic career, my films have been finalists in various film festivals such as the 2023 NYU Accra Student Film Festival, National Black Movie Association Film Festival 2024, and The Green Screen Project Film Festival 2024. As the Event Planner and Outreach Leader of the Morehouse Filmmakers Association, I felt a calling to use my film talents and network to give back to my community. During the Spring of 2024, I organized and led a community service initiative called “A Minute with Morehouse.” Thirty students from the Atlanta University Center along with fifty students at Booker T. Washington and again with sixty students at Tri-Cities High School spent a day filming with their cell phones. The next day, they edited the footage into a one-minute short which was shown at a community screening with parents a week later. Many of these students who initially said they were not going to college came to us after the showcase and said they were filling out college applications so they could be leaders in the filmmaking industry. Through this initiative, my team and I taught Black high schoolers that they have the power to be leaders in their storytelling journey through film. The Marie Jean Baptiste Memorial Scholarship will enable me to continue my education so that I can continue to strengthen the Caribbean diaspora. The scholarship will also help me become an example for the generation of Black children after me. As I pursue a career in filmmaking, I will create films that uplift underrepresented groups and tell forgotten and lost stories, specifically throughout the Caribbean Diaspora. I will make a film about the resilience and gorgeous culture of Haiti and how the world should pay homage to the nation for being a pioneer of slave rebellions and other stories like this. Through my films, I plan to bring awareness to underrepresented communities and lead efforts to improve their conditions in society. The honor of receiving the Marie Jean Baptiste Memorial Scholarship can make this possible.

“DEMOCRAT!” “REPUBLICAN!” “BLACK!” “WHITE!” “WOMEN’S RIGHTS!” “MEN’S RIGHTS!” “UP!” “DOWN!” “DON’T TOUCH MY GUN!” “RESTRICT GUNS NOW!” Our world is inundated with disagreements and quarrels. That's why at the age of fourteen, I decided I wanted to be a film director and screenwriter. Filmmaking piques my interest because while a movie is seen through a camera’s lens, what truly happens is the viewer steps back to take off their life’s lens and see through someone else’s. An effective film urges us to stop seeing each other as gay or straight, liberal or conservative, tall or short, and see the truth: a human being. A few years later, I am now a rising senior and film major at Spelman College. I am in the Spelman College honors program, fluent in four languages and I am Cum Laude at Spelman College. My favorite film genre is action/adventure with some of my favorite films being Guardians of the Galaxy II, the Shaft series, John Wick, The Next Three Days, and The Gray Man (I love an adrenaline rush!) While spending my whole life watching films, I always wished that I could be “the good guy”. I realized soon that I could never be a good guy because I am not a guy to begin with. While there was an increase in female heroines in movies as the years went on, typically the girls and women in these action movies were damsels in distress, weak, overly sexual, or farcically emotional characters. My life's mission is to join the ongoing movement of women who are holding screenwriter and director positions. Consequently, to keep moving forward toward accurate cinematic representation and fighting sexism in the filmmaking world (and because screenwriting and directing are fun!) The reinforcement of weakness and over-sexualization of women in film and TV influences people’s minds and perpetuates sexism and hate crimes against women. Furthermore, women and most importantly girls who watch these stereotypes begin to internalize them and subconsciously think that this behavior is necessary to get attention or validation in society. So far in my cinematic career, I have directed and written films about female veterinarians, female stunt doubles, and female University of Ghana dance students (dance as a profession is stigmatized for women in West African societies) among many other women’s empowerment films. My films have been finalists in various film festivals such as The 2023 NYU Accra Student Film Festival, National Black Movie Association Film Festival 2024, and The Green Screen Project Film Festival 2024. The Connie Konatsotis Scholarship will go toward my tuition and help my journey of being a role model in filmmaking for the generation of young girls after me. I want them to know that they have the autonomy and power to not only tell their own stories but be the hero in their stories. In December of 2024, through crowdfunding and student grants, I plan to travel to Ghana to tell the story of ‘Kayayei’: Ghana’s female street vendors. These women make up to $2 selling goods from the top of their heads and because of their low wages resort to sex work which leads to discrimination and hate crimes against them. Through my film, I want to lead efforts to improve the conditions of these women in their society. I plan to finish this project by the Spring of 2025 which will be distributed throughout Ghana’s capital city of Accra, Europe, and the United States. The honor of receiving the Connie Konatsotis Scholarship can make it possible for me to help women through filmmaking.

“A mammy, a buck, a sad mulatto, an Uncle Tom or a coon. These were the only things you were allowed to be in Hollywood if you were Black” -My second-year professor, Julie Dash My favorite film genre is action/adventure. Some of my favorite films are Guardians of the Galaxy II, the Shaft series, John Wick, The Next Three Days and The Gray Man (I love an adrenaline rush!) While spending my whole life watching films, sometimes the good guy looked like me, however, most of them did not. For decades in Hollywood, people who were Black were caricatures and villains. As a film major in the honors program at Spelman College, my life's mission is to join the Black women and men holding screenwriter and director positions to keep moving forward in the fight against cinematic oppression (and because screenwriting and directing are fun!) The reinforcement of negative stereotypes in film and TV has supported hate crimes and racism that have led to the deaths of many innocent Black people. Furthermore, stereotypes destroy the minds and self-images of my community which continues the negative impacts of slavery even though we are already free. I am joining the ongoing movement of putting positive depictions of people of color on screen as heroes in our own stories. So far in my cinematic career, I have directed and written films about Black American repatriation to Africa, Black men and women stunt doubles, and Afro-Latin dance as a form of medicine for mental health. My films have been finalists in various film festivals such as The 2023 NYU Accra Student Film Festival, National Black Movie Association Film Festival 2024, and The Green Screen Project Film Festival 2024. As the Event Planner and Outreach Leader of the Morehouse Filmmakers Association, I felt a calling to use my film talents and network to give back to my community. During the Spring of 2024, I organized and led a community service initiative called “A Minute with Morehouse.” Thirty students from the Atlanta University Center along with fifty students at Booker T. Washington and again with sixty students at Tri-Cities High School spent a day filming with their cell phones. The next day, they edited the footage into a one-minute short which was shown at a community screening with parents a week later. Many of these students who initially said they were not going to college came to us after the showcase and said they were filling out college applications so they could be leaders in the filmmaking industry. Through this initiative, my team and I taught Black high schoolers that they have the power to be leaders in their storytelling journey through film. The CATALYSTS Scholarship will enable me to continue my education so that I can help to end racism in cinema and consequently our society. The scholarship will also help me become an example for the generation of young Black boys and girls after me. As I pursue a career in filmmaking, I will create films that uplift underrepresented groups and tell forgotten and lost stories, specifically throughout the African Diaspora. I will make a film about the culture and presence of Afro-Latinos, the ancient story of the Aborigines, and the intellectual gold mine of Timbuktu that contributed to the enlightenment and advancements in the Western world and what the city is today. Through my films, I plan to bring awareness to communities like these and lead efforts to improve their conditions in society. The honor of receiving the CATALYSTS Scholarship can make this possible.

As a film major at Spelman College, my life's mission is to join the Black women and men who are screenwriters and film directors to keep moving forward in the fight against cinematic racial oppression (and because screenwriting and directing are fun!) In my cinematic career, I have directed and written films about Black American repatriation to Africa, Black stunt doubles, and Afro-Latin dance as a form of medicine for mental health. My films have been finalists in various film festivals such as The 2023 NYU Accra Student Film Festival, National Black Movie Association Film Festival 2024, and The Green Screen Project Film Festival 2024. As the Event Planner and Outreach Leader of the Morehouse Filmmakers Association, I organized and led a community service initiative called “A Minute with Morehouse.” Thirty students from the Atlanta University Center along with fifty students at Booker T. Washington and again with sixty students at Tri-Cities High School spent a day filming with their cell phones. The next day, they edited the footage into a one-minute short which was shown at a community screening with parents a week later. Many of these students who initially said they were not going to college came to us after the showcase and said they were filling out college applications so they could be leaders in the filmmaking industry. Through this initiative, my team and I taught Black high schoolers that they have the power to be leaders in their storytelling journey through film. The WCEJ Thornton Foundation Music & Art Scholarship will enable me to continue my education so that I can help to end racism in cinema and consequently our society. The scholarship will also help me become an example for the generation of children of color after me. As I pursue a career in filmmaking, I will create films that uplift underrepresented groups and tell forgotten and lost stories, specifically throughout the African Diaspora. I will make a film about the culture and presence of Afro-Latinos, the ancient story of the Aborigines, and the intellectual gold mine of Timbuktu that contributed to the enlightenment and advancements in the Western world and what the city is today. Through my films, I plan to bring awareness to communities like these and lead efforts to improve their conditions in society. The honor of receiving The WCEJ Thornton Foundation Music & Art Scholarship can make this possible.

“A mammy, a buck, a sad mulatto, an Uncle Tom, or a coon. This is what you were allowed to be in Hollywood if you were Black” -My second-year professor, Julie Dash As a film major at Spelman College, my life's mission is to join the Black women and men who will hold screenwriter and director positions to keep moving forward in the fight against cinematic racial oppression (and because screenwriting and directing are fun!) The reinforcement of negative stereotypes in film and TV has supported hate crimes and racism that have led to the deaths of many innocent Black people. Furthermore, stereotypes destroy the minds and self-images of my community which continues the negative impacts of slavery even though we are already free. I am joining the ongoing movement of putting positive depictions of people of color on screen. So far in my cinematic career, I have directed and written films about Black American repatriation to Africa, Black men and women stunt doubles, and Afro-Latin dance as a form of medicine for mental health. My films have been finalists in various film festivals such as The 2023 NYU Accra Student Film Festival, National Black Movie Association Film Festival 2024, and The Green Screen Project Film Festival 2024. During my junior year of college in 2023, I felt a calling to use the power of film to help my community. I was voted to be an executive board member of The Morehouse Filmmakers Association as the Event Planner and Outreach Leader. While on the e-board, I organized and led a community service initiative called “A Minute with Morehouse.” Thirty students from the Atlanta University Center along with fifty students at Booker T. Washington and again with sixty students at Tri-Cities High School spent a day filming with their cell phones. The next day, they edited the footage into a one-minute short which was shown at a community screening with parents a week later. Many of these students who initially said they were not going to college came to us after the showcase and said they were filling out college applications so they could be leaders in the filmmaking industry. Through this initiative, my team and I taught Black high schoolers that they have the power to be leaders in their storytelling journey through film. The West Family Scholarship will enable me to continue my education so that I can help to end racism in cinema and consequently our society. The scholarship will also help me become an example for the generation of young Black boys and girls after me. I want them to know that they have the autonomy and power to not only tell their own stories but be the hero in their stories. In five to ten years, I envision being a world-renowned screenwriter and film director who dabbles in acting. As I pursue a career in screenwriting, film directing, and acting, I will create films and videos that uplift underrepresented groups and tell forgotten and lost stories, specifically throughout the African Diaspora. I will make a film about the culture and presence of Afro-Latinos, the ancient story of the Aborigines, and the intellectual gold mine of Timbuktu that contributed to the enlightenment and advancements in the Western world and what the city is today. Through my films, I plan to bring awareness to communities like these and lead efforts to improve their conditions in society. The honor of receiving The West Family Scholarship can make this possible.

“A mammy, a buck, a sad mulatto, an Uncle Tom, or a coon. This is what you were allowed to be in Hollywood if you were Black” -My second-year professor, Julie Dash My favorite film genre is action/adventure. Some of my favorite films are Guardians of the Galaxy II, the Shaft series, John Wick, The Next Three Days and The Gray Man (I love an adrenaline rush!) While spending my whole life watching films, sometimes the good guy looked like me, however, most of them did not. For decades in Hollywood, people who were Black were caricatures and villains. As a film major at Spelman College, my life's mission is to join the Black women and men who will hold screenwriter and director positions to keep moving forward in the fight against cinematic oppression (and because screenwriting and directing are fun!) The reinforcement of negative stereotypes in film and TV has supported hate crimes and racism that have led to the deaths of many innocent Black people. Furthermore, stereotypes destroy the minds and self-images of my community which continues the negative impacts of slavery even though we are already free. I am joining the ongoing movement of putting positive depictions of people of color on screen as heroes in our own stories. So far in my cinematic career, I have directed and written films about Black American repatriation to Africa, Black men and women stunt doubles, and Afro-Latin dance as a form of medicine for mental health. My films have been finalists in various film festivals such as The 2023 NYU Accra Student Film Festival, National Black Movie Association Film Festival 2024, and The Green Screen Project Film Festival 2024. The Jerzee Foundation Scholarship will enable me to continue my education so that I can be an example for the generation of young Black boys and girls after me. I want them to know that they have the autonomy and power to not only tell their own stories but be the hero in their stories. In five to ten years, I envision being a world-renowned screenwriter and film director who dabbles in acting. As I pursue a career in screenwriting, film directing, and acting, I will create films and videos that uplift underrepresented groups and tell forgotten and lost stories, specifically throughout the African Diaspora. I will make a film about the culture and presence of Afro-Latinos, the ancient story of the Aborigines, and the intellectual gold mine of Timbuktu that contributed to the enlightenment and advancements in the Western world and what the city is today. Through my films, I plan to bring awareness to communities like these and lead efforts to improve their conditions in society. The honor of receiving The Jerzee Foundation Scholarship can make that possible.

As a tour guide at the Fox Theatre in Atlanta and a film student at Spelman College, being multifaceted is a part of my daily life. That is why I am dedicating my two passions to improving the future of the environment. With my role extending beyond solely showcasing its historical and architectural marvels, I used my job to foster a positive environmental impact on both local and global communities over the next five years. Through the lens of hospitality and filmmaking technology, I have been a leader in several initiatives aimed at sustainability and community engagement in the metro Atlanta area. I am currently advocating for eco-friendly practices within the theatre, such as reducing single-use plastics, promoting recycling programs, and encouraging healthier lifestyle choices among visitors and staff alike. By being a liaison with local environmental organizations in my community such as Georgia Conservancy and the Chattahoochee Nature Center, I helped to offer wellness-themed tours that emphasize both physical and mental health benefits, tying in the theatre's rich history with contemporary conservation methods. Additionally, I combine cinematic technology and environmental conservation to improve the world around me. As a tour guide at the Fox Theatre in Atlanta, I advocate for environmental wellness through film by curating and showcasing documentaries and films that highlight environmental issues and solutions. Through special screenings and film festivals focused on sustainability, such as documentaries on climate change, wildlife conservation, and renewable energy initiatives, I aim to educate and inspire visitors about the importance of environmental stewardship. By partnering with environmental organizations and local filmmakers, I created a platform where audiences can learn about pressing environmental challenges and discover actionable ways to make a positive impact. These film initiatives not only enrich the cultural experience at the Fox Theatre but also empower individuals to become advocates for a healthier planet. As a tour guide at the Fox Theatre Atlanta, my commitment to creating a positive environmental impact over the next five years is multifaceted. By integrating wellness, filmmaking, hospitality, and community service, I am slowly helping to transform the theatre and neighborhood into a model of sustainability and community engagement. This occurs while simultaneously using my background in cinematic technologies. The honor of receiving the FLIK Hospitality Group’s Entrepreneurial Council Scholarship will enable me to continue to advocate and positively affect the environment around me through film technology and hospitality. Together, we can contribute to a healthier and more sustainable future for our local and global communities.

Becoming a Black screenwriter and film director is my way of positively impacting the world around me. As an avid community service student at Spelman College, I was voted to be an executive board member of The Morehouse Filmmakers Association as the Event Planner and Outreach Leader. While on the e-board, I felt a calling to use the power of film to help children in low-income neighborhoods. This led me to organize a community service initiative called “A Minute with Morehouse”. Thirty students from the Atlanta University Center along with fifty students at Booker T. Washington High School and again with sixty students at Tri-Cities High School spent a day filming and the next day editing a film into a one-minute short followed by a community screening. Through this initiative, my team and I taught Black high schoolers that they have the power to be leaders through filmmaking and can overcome any challenges they are facing in their personal lives. Additionally, many students who originally did not plan to go to college submitted college applications after the event to pursue careers in the film industry. Following this, I directed a short about Ebonics, the dialect of Black Americans which won the Grand Prize of the 2024 Black History Film Festival Video Competition in Atlanta, Georgia. I also became a Walt Disney Company / UNCF Corporate Scholar in 2024 while directing and writing a film about Black stunt doubles and a movie on how Afro-Latin dance therapy can be substituted for psychiatric medications. Now I am a senior at Spelman College, a four-year member of the Spelman College honors program, Cum Laude, fluent in five languages, and director of over 15 short films. The Our Destiny, Our Future Scholarship will enable me to continue the legacy of Destiny McClain so that I can be an example for the generation of young Black boys and girls after me. In five to ten years, I envision being a world-renowned screenwriter and film director who dabbles in acting. As I pursue a career in screenwriting, film directing, and acting, I will create films and videos that uplift underrepresented groups and tell forgotten and lost stories, specifically throughout the African Diaspora. I will make a film about the culture and presence of Afro-Latinos, the ancient story of the Aborigines, and the intellectual gold mine of Timbuktu that contributed to the enlightenment and advancements in the Western world and what the city is today. Through my films, I plan to bring awareness to communities like these and lead efforts to improve their conditions in society. The honor of receiving the Our Destiny, Our Future Scholarship can make this possible.

“A mammy, a buck, a sad mulatto, an Uncle Tom, or a coon. This is what you were allowed to be in Hollywood if you were Black” -My second-year professor, Julie Dash My favorite film genre is action/adventure. Some of my favorite films are Guardians of the Galaxy II, the Shaft series, John Wick, The Next Three Days, and The Gray Man (I love an adrenaline rush!) While spending my whole life watching films, sometimes the good guy looked like me, however, most of them did not. For decades in Hollywood, people who were Black were caricatures and villains. My life's mission is to join the Black women and men who will hold screenwriter and director positions to keep moving forward in the fight against cinematic oppression (and because screenwriting and directing are fun!) The reinforcement of negative stereotypes in film and TV has reinforced hate crimes and racism that have led to the deaths of many innocent Black people. Furthermore, stereotypes destroy the minds and self-images of my community which continues the negative impacts of slavery even though we are already free. I am joining the ongoing movement of putting positive depictions of people of color on screen as heroes in our stories. So far in my cinematic career, I have directed and written films about Black American repatriation to Africa, Black men and women stunt doubles, and Afro-Latin dance as a form of medicine for mental health. My films have been finalists in various film festivals such as The 2023 NYU Accra Student Film Festival, National Black Movie Association Film Festival 2024, and The Green Screen Project Film Festival 2024. The CEW IV Foundation Scholarship Program will enable me to continue my education so that I can be an example for the generation of young Black boys and girls after me. I want them to know that they have the autonomy and power to tell their own stories and be the hero in their stories. In five to ten years, I envision being a world-renowned screenwriter and film director who dabbles in acting. As I pursue a career in screenwriting, film directing, and acting, I will create films and videos that uplift underrepresented groups and tell forgotten and lost stories, specifically throughout the African Diaspora. I will make a film about the culture and presence of Afro-Latinos, the ancient story of the Aborigines, and the intellectual gold mine of Timbuktu that contributed to the enlightenment and advancements in the Western world and what the city is today. Through my films, I plan to bring awareness to communities like these and lead efforts to improve their conditions in society. The honor of receiving the CEW IV Foundation Scholarship can make this possible.

Being a rising senior and film major at Spelman College, a member of the Spelman College honors program, director of over 15 short films, fluent in three languages, on the executive board of my school’s film club, and Cum Laude at Spelman College, enables me to bond with people from many different walks of life. This includes individuals in the mental health community like my brother, friends, relatives, classmates, some of my teachers, and many others who are very important to me. Educating myself on mental health is important to me because it helps me care for others in the way they need and connects me closer to a misunderstood population in our society. As a natural-born leader and storyteller, I connect to the mental health community by listening to their stories. While no two of these stories are the same, they unfortunately always have similarities when it comes to their interactions with others outside the mental health community: “People said I’m retarded” “People called me crazy/lazy” “They didn’t sit with me at lunch when I was in elementary school” “The teacher said I was dumb” “I thought something was wrong with me” As a film major at Spelman College, I advocate for mental health awareness through filmmaking. For my final film in the spring of 2024, I directed, wrote, and edited a short film on the positive effects of Afro-Latin dancing (bachata, salsa, and merengue) on mental health survivors. With its rhythmic beats, up-tempo pace, and social atmosphere, Afro-Latin dance is perfect for people in the mental health community because of its positive chemical effects on the brain and nervous system. I wanted to demonstrate through my film that the answer to interacting with those battling mental health as someone who is outside the community is not always immediate diagnoses, prescribing substances, judgment, isolation, or ostracizing. There are many things a person can do to support the mental health community. Sometimes, it is as simple as inviting someone to dance. My film’s subjects are daily overcomers of mental health challenges. The film portrays them joining the Atlanta Afro-Latin dance community and how it has helped them in their journeys. So far, this film has been a finalist in the 2024 Spelman College Documentary Filmmaking Film Festival, the 2024 Morehouse Filmmaker’s Association Film Festival, and the 2024 Brilliant Bilingual Global Leaders Film Festival. After seeing the impact this film had in my city, I am eager to continue to use my filmmaking career to help educate and spread awareness on how we can help people who are part of a demographic that has been wrongfully stigmatized for years. The Ethel Hayes Destigmatization of Mental Health Scholarship will go toward my tuition which will help my journey of spreading awareness. I will continue to tell stories about families and individuals of African descent who are mental health survivors and advocates. Through this, I can show their resilience and victories. The honor of receiving The Ethel Hayes Destigmatization of Mental Health Scholarship can make it possible for me to advocate and be a leader for the mental health community through filmmaking. P.S. (not a part of my essay) Thank you for sharing the story of Ms. Ethel Hayes. I am sorry for your loss and may she rest in Holy peace with the Lord. Amen.

Being a rising senior and film major at Spelman College, a member of the Spelman College honors program, director of over 15 short films, fluent in three languages, on the executive board of my school’s film club, and Cum Laude at Spelman College, enables me to bond with people from many different walks of life. This includes individuals in the mental health community like my brother, friends, relatives, classmates, some of my teachers, and many others who are very important to me. Educating myself on mental health is important to me because it helps me care for others in the way they need and connects me closer to a community I care about. As a natural-born leader and storyteller, I connect to the mental health community by listening to their stories. While no two of these stories are the same, they unfortunately always have similarities when it comes to their interactions with others outside the mental health community: “People said I’m retarded” “People called me crazy/lazy” “They didn’t sit with me at lunch when I was in elementary school” “The teacher said I was dumb” “I thought something was wrong with me” As a film major at Spelman College, I advocate for mental health awareness through filmmaking. For my final film in the spring of 2024, I directed, wrote, and edited a short film on the positive effects of Afro-Latin dancing (bachata, salsa, and merengue) on mental health survivors. With its rhythmic beats, up-tempo pace, and social atmosphere, Afro-Latin dance is shown to be perfect for people in the mental health community because of the chemical effects it has on the brain and nervous system. I wanted to demonstrate through my film that the answer to interacting with those battling mental health as someone who is outside the community is not always immediate diagnoses, prescribing substances, judgment, isolation, or ostracizing. There are many things a person can do to support the mental health community. Sometimes, it is as simple as inviting someone to dance. My film’s subjects are daily overcomers of mental health challenges. The film portrays them joining the Atlanta Afro-Latin dance community and how it has helped them in their journeys. So far, this film has been a finalist in the 2024 Spelman College Documentary Filmmaking Film Festival, the 2024 Morehouse Filmmaker’s Association Film Festival, and the 2024 Brilliant Bilingual Global Leaders Film Festival. After seeing the impact this film had in my city, I am eager to continue to use my filmmaking career to help educate and spread awareness on how we can help people who are part of a demographic that has been wrongfully stigmatized for years. The Mental Health Empowerment Scholarship will go toward my tuition which will help my journey of spreading awareness. I will tell stories about other families and individuals who are mental health survivors and advocates. Through this, I can show their resilience and victories. The honor of receiving The Mental Health Empowerment Scholarship can make it possible for me to advocate and be a leader for the mental health community through filmmaking.

As I pursue a career in screenwriting, film directing, and acting, I will create films and videos that uplift underrepresented groups and tell forgotten and lost stories, specifically throughout the African Diaspora. I will make a film about the culture and presence of Afro-Latinos, the ancient story of the Aborigines, and the intellectual gold mine of Timbuktu that contributed to the enlightenment and advancements in the western world and what the city is today. Through my films, I plan to bring awareness to communities like these and lead efforts to improve their conditions in society. Being a Black person means sharing DNA with the most ancient and advanced people on this planet. From Mansa Musa, the ancient Egyptians, the Songhai Empire, and the Kushites to overcoming the hardships of Slavery, Reconstruction, and Jim Crow Laws; being Black means excellence is a part of my identity, history, and destiny. I chose Spelman College because I wanted to attend a college where I am celebrated and not tolerated. Furthermore, I have all my life to be labeled “minority” and in non-Black spaces. I want to spend these formative years of my life as the majority and main character of my environment. That is why I am a film major at Spelman College, in the Spelman College honors program, fluent in five languages and I am Cum Laude at Spelman College.

“Grandma, tell me that story about how you met Bob Marley” “Tell me about Jamaica in the 80s again” “Grandma, you did what?!” Growing up, the number one way me and my grandmother bonded was by sitting down and listening to her eloquent stories. Through my grandmother’s storytelling, I became enamored with storytelling and wanted to tell my own stories. At the age of fourteen, I decided that I specifically wanted to tell my stories through filmmaking because anything is possible in a cinematic world. Years later, I am now a rising senior and film major at Spelman College. I am in the Spelman College honors program, director of over 15 short films, have been a finalist film director in numerous film festivals, fluent in three languages and I am Cum Laude at Spelman College. My grandmother was diagnosed with End Stage Renal Disease right before the pandemic. We were told that she would need dialysis for the rest of her life because her body could not handle kidney transplant surgery. Seeing my grandmother constantly in pain, unable to come to family reunions, Thanksgivings, Christmases or my graduation ceremony left a hole in my heart. Very soon the only time I saw her was in hospitals where I always cried at how swollen her body was from the lack of blood flow. My grandmother soon passed away in 2023 and her passing was a devastation for our entire family. I cried every night asking God “Why did she have to leave the earth in so much pain?” While mourning her loss, the Spirit led me to use her passing as fuel to do something positive in someone else’s life. My grandmother was the type of person to give you the clothes on her back when all she had was rags. I decided that I wanted to do something to channel my grandmother's generous and kind spirit after her passing by studying abroad. In 2023, I studied abroad for a semester in Accra, Ghana in Spring 2023 with New York University. At first, I was daunted by this opportunity since I did not have the financial means to fund this trip. Thankfully, my semester abroad experience was fully funded by applying for study abroad scholarships and the Pell Grant for low-income students. While abroad, I continued to tell stories through film and wrote the script for a film about the mass repatriation of Black Americans to Ghana. After this, I directed a movie about University of Ghana dance students triumphing over the challenges of a profession stigmatized in West African society. My grandmother battling kidney disease has taught me that when you are experiencing hardships in life, you can still make a positive difference in others. Even while in the hospital in severe pain, unable to move and fearing when her last day would be, my grandmother always put a smile on my face when I saw her. I want to continue to put a smile on other’s faces with my career in film directing and screenwriting. The Caring for Carrie (C4C) Kidney Advocacy Scholarship will go toward my tuition which will help my journey of spreading awareness of kidney diseases and being a role model in filmmaking for the generation of young girls after me. I plan to tell stories about other families and individuals experiencing kidney-related illness and show their stories and resilience. The honor of receiving The Caring for Carrie (C4C) Kidney Advocacy Scholarship can make it possible for me to help the kidney health community through filmmaking.

At the age of fourteen, I decided I wanted to be a film director and screenwriter. This was a result of me always staring out the window when I got into a car and making such in-depth stories that I forgot others were even around me (and getting in trouble for it). A few years later, I am now a rising senior and film major at Spelman College. I am in the Spelman College honors program, fluent in five languages and I am Cum Laude at Spelman College. My favorite film genre is action/adventure with some of my favorite films being Guardians of the Galaxy II, the Shaft series, John Wick, The Next Three Days, and The Gray Man (I love an adrenaline rush!) While spending my whole life watching films, I always wished that I could be “the good guy”. I realized soon that I could never be a good guy because I am not a guy to begin with. While there was an increase in female heroines in movies as the years went on, typically the girls and women in these action movies were damsels in distress, weak, overly sexual, or farcically emotional characters. My life's mission is to join the ongoing movement of women who are holding screenwriter and director positions. Consequently, to keep moving forward toward accurate cinematic representation and fighting sexism in the filmmaking world (and because screenwriting and directing are fun!) The reinforcement of weakness and over-sexualization of women in film and TV influences people’s minds and perpetuates sexism and hate crimes against women. Furthermore, women and most importantly girls who watch these stereotypes begin to internalize them and subconsciously think that this behavior is necessary to get attention or validation in society. So far in my cinematic career, I have directed and written films about female veterinarians, female stunt doubles, and female University of Ghana dance students (dance as a profession is stigmatized for women in West African societies) among many other women’s empowerment films. My films have been finalists in various film festivals such as The 2023 NYU Accra Student Film Festival, National Black Movie Association Film Festival 2024, and The Green Screen Project Film Festival 2024. The Man Helping Women Helping Women Scholarship will go toward my tuition and help my journey of being a role model in filmmaking for the generation of young girls after me. I want them to know that they have the autonomy and power to not only tell their own stories but be the hero in them. In December of 2024, through crowdfunding and student grants, I plan to travel to Ghana to tell the story of ‘Kayayei’: Ghana’s female street vendors. These women make up to $2 selling goods from the top of their heads and because of their low wages resort to sex work which leads to discrimination and hate crimes against them. Through my film, I will lead efforts to improve the conditions of these women in their society. I plan to finish this project by the Spring of 2025 which will be distributed throughout Ghana’s capital city of Accra, Europe, and the United States. The honor of receiving the Man Helping Women Helping Women Scholarship can make it possible for me to help women through filmmaking.

At fourteen, I decided I wanted to be a film director and screenwriter. This was a result of me always staring out the window when I got into a car and making such in-depth stories that I was tuning out everyone else around me (and getting in trouble for it). A few years later, I am now a rising senior and film major at Spelman College. I am in the Spelman College honors program, fluent in five languages and I am Cum Laude at Spelman College. During my junior year of college in 2023, I felt a calling to use the power of film to help my community. I was voted to be an executive board member of The Morehouse Filmmakers Association as the Event Planner and Outreach Leader. While on the e-board, I organized and led a community service initiative called “A Minute with Morehouse.” Thirty students from the Atlanta University Center along with fifty students at Booker T. Washington and again with sixty students at Tri-Cities High School spent a day filming and the next day editing the film into a one-minute short followed by a community screening. Many of these students who initially said they were not going to college came to us after the showcase and asked how they could be leaders in the filmmaking industry. Through this initiative, my team and I taught Black high schoolers that they have the power to be leaders in their storytelling journey through film. My life's mission is to join the ongoing movement of women who are holding screenwriter and director positions. Consequently, to keep moving forward toward accurate cinematic representation and fighting sexism and racism in the filmmaking world (and because screenwriting and directing are fun!) So far in my cinematic career, I have directed and written films about female veterinarians, female stunt doubles, and female University of Ghana dance students (dance as a profession is stigmatized for women in West African societies) among many other women’s empowerment films. My films have been finalists in various film festivals such as the 2023 NYU Accra Student Film Festival, National Black Movie Association Film Festival 2024, and The Green Screen Project Film Festival 2024. The Scholarship Institute’s Annual Women’s Leadership Scholarship will enable me to continue my education to be a role model in filmmaking for the generation of young girls after me. I want them to know they can not only tell their own stories but be the hero in them. In December of 2024, through crowdfunding and student grants, I plan to travel to Ghana to tell the story of ‘Kayayei’ Ghana’s female street vendors. These women make up to $2 selling goods from the top of their heads and because of their low wages resort to sex work which leads to discrimination and hate crimes against them. Through my film, I want to lead efforts to improve the conditions of these women in their society. I plan to finish this project by the Spring of 2025 which will be distributed throughout Ghana’s capital city of Accra, Europe, and the United States. The honor of receiving the Scholarship Institute’s Annual Women’s Leadership Scholarship can make it possible for me to help women through filmmaking.

Amira Barrett 6/14/2024 The WC & EJ Thornton Foundation Low-Income Scholarship Scholarship Essay As a documentary film student at Spelman College, I have dedicated my life to telling stories. It has always been easy for me to tell others' stories. I had already made films about African American people’s relationships with pets, tall people, and even a Zamboni driver. But what about my own story? My story begins in a two-parent household where my parents had been married all my life. The shock I felt was unimaginable when I heard these words in August 2022: "Your father and I are getting a divorce.” A twenty-year marriage was gone in front of my eyes in eight words. During my parents’ divorce, I realized I had a choice. The first choice was to allow this traumatic experience to cripple my aspirations for life. The second choice was to use this event in my life as fuel; fuel to venture outside of my comfort zone and help others with my gift of storytelling by traveling abroad. One of my greatest accomplishments that I will always be proud of is when I studied abroad for a semester in Accra, Ghana in Spring 2023 with New York University. At first, I was daunted by this opportunity since I did not have the financial means to fund this trip on my own. Thankfully, my semester abroad experience was fully funded through study abroad scholarships and the Pell Grant. While abroad, I continued to tell stories through film. I wrote the script for a film about the mass repatriation of Black Americans to Ghana with an invitation from the Ghanaian government. This film was featured on Ghana’s national broadcasting network for World Tourism Day 2023. I directed a film about students from the University of Ghana who are majoring in dance; and how they triumph over the challenges of being dedicated to a profession that is stigmatized in a West African society. This film has been featured in over ten film festivals and has been a finalist or audience choice film in over eight festivals. My story taught me that after my parent’s messy divorce, I chose not to be a victim of my circumstance but to use the art of storytelling to teach people to not give up, to work hard, to be faithful, to have discipline and to never be satisfied with a story where you are not the winner. I learned that I am more ambitious and persevering than I thought. Furthermore, through my greatest achievement, I realized that my parents’ mistakes are not my own and I can make a different choice. The honor of receiving the WC & EJ Thornton Foundation Low-Income Scholarship will fund my education which is preparing me for my upcoming project. I will film my senior thesis about female mobile street vendors from Accra, Ghana. Many of these girls come from poor families and are hired by wealthy people in the city to transport and sell goods for about 2 dollars a day. With the little money these women make, they often resort to sex work and are discriminated against. I plan to give these women who have been silenced by society a voice and better conditions. This will be done by telling their stories in a fifteen-minute documentary that will be complete by the Spring of 2025. The WC & EJ Thornton Foundation Low-Income Scholarship can help me make this possible.